Abstract
ABE, K., MATSUURA, N., FUKUSHIMA, N., NOHARA, Y., FUJITA, H., FUJIEDA, K. and KATO, T. Plasma Prolactin Response to Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone in Children with Newly Diagnosed Insulin Dependent Diabetes. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1983, 140 (1), 29-34-The basal and TRH-induced prolactin (PRL) and TSH secretions were examined in 14 children aged 4 to 13 years with newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes (IDD) within three weeks after diagnosis. Basal PRL levels did not differ from the values of control. In response to TRH, 6 out of 14 patients showed an exaggerated PRL response and 8 a normal PRL response. The basal and TRH-induced TSH secretions were normal, while plasma triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations were significantly (p<0.001, p<0.02) lower in patients than in controls. These findings suggest that a significant proportion of children with newly diagnosed IDD has an exaggerated PRL response to TRH, and TSH secretion remains unchanged despite significant decreases of circulating thyroid hormone levels.
